Chelsea‘s latest type has been removed from convincing. However they’re nonetheless grinding out outcomes: a slim 1-0 win over Leicester, back-to-back 1-1 attracts with Manchester United and Twente, and now one other unremarkable 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Although unbeaten within the Ladies’s Tremendous League (WSL) underneath supervisor Sonia Bompastor and dominant in London derbies (with 33 wins of their final 39 video games), Chelsea‘s latest performances have lacked fluidity, innovative and cohesion within the closing third.
Towards Spurs, it took 23 photographs to lastly break the impasse, courtesy of a second of brilliance from midfielder Keira Walsh, who smashed a low shot into the web from 25 yards. However simply 4 of their 27 whole makes an attempt had been on course, suggesting a well-recognized downside of excessive quantity and low effectivity.
Too typically, Chelsea squandered clear-cut possibilities and with every miss, frustration grew, fueling a cycle that solely intensified because the match wore on.
In addition they proceed to wrestle from set items and received 16 corners towards Spurs (13 within the first half) with out producing a significant menace from one.
Statistically, Chelsea typically dominate territory. On Sunday, they’d 66% possession and their 67 touches in Tottenham’s field marked a season excessive, complemented by 152 profitable passes into the ultimate third. But the conversion price merely would not mirror the management they try for.
Their attacking frustrations have been compounded by constant squad rotation, because the beginning XI has modified for each recreation to this point and so they lack of a focus in assault. Striker Sam Kerr has returned to the squad however is but to begin a recreation after 22 months out with a torn ACL, whereas Mayra Ramírez stays sidelined with harm till the brand new 12 months. Consequently, and regardless of Aggie Beever-Jones contributing 4 targets in six appearances, Chelsea typically look blunt in central areas.
But they’re doing what champions do and are nonetheless discovering methods to win. Final season, 10 of their 19 victories got here by single-goal margins en path to a report factors whole within the WSL. So does it matter if they don’t seem to be scientific, so long as they hold profitable? Ultimately, an opponent will get it proper, however for now they’re hanging on.
As for Spurs, regardless of leaving the match with no level, they demonstrated clear tactical and structural enhancements underneath new boss Martin Ho, notably of their defensive group.
With 4 wins in six, one lower than they’d all final season, the membership are on an upward trajectory and, having completed their final marketing campaign in eleventh, are basing their success on a extra resilient protection. Final marketing campaign, Spurs had the second-worst defensive report final 12 months (conceded 44), however now, six video games in, they sit fourth within the desk with a impartial purpose distinction, firmly within the prime half.
Towards Chelsea, Spurs had been resolute on the again, registering 30 tackles and 44 clearances — numbers that mirror their dedication to conserving a compact construction and making efficient last-ditch interventions. Chelsea created 4 massive possibilities in whole, however Spurs’ self-discipline and form restricted their high quality, stopping these alternatives from changing into targets.
Netherlands goalkeeper Lize Kop was notably instrumental, producing a number of high-quality saves that saved the scoreline respectable. Her efficiency, alongside a powerful collective defensive effort, displays a staff trending in the appropriate path.
Nevertheless, Tottenham’s enhancements stay largely confined to their defensive half. They struggled to make an impression on the different finish and, with simply two photographs on course and a single massive probability created, their presence within the closing third was minimal. Chelsea, regardless of being removed from their greatest, had been hardly ever examined, and Spurs’ assaults lacked the sharpness wanted to hassle goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
Whereas their passing accuracy has improved, a lot of it was lateral or backwards — an indication of warning of their build-up play. This restricted their skill to generate momentum or apply sustained stress. There have been glimpses of intent in urgent sequences, however with out a lot development or direct attacking play, most strikes fizzled out earlier than changing into harmful.
Finally, the hole between the 2 sides lies much less in construction and extra in execution. Chelsea, even when underwhelming, have mastered the artwork of grinding out outcomes and capitalizing on massive moments. Spurs, in contrast, are nonetheless studying how you can convert group into finish product.
Proscribing Chelsea to minimal possibilities is a big feat for a staff nonetheless adjusting to Ho and his techniques, however had their attacking play matched their defensive effort, they might have taken some extent or extra. Including the mentality, ruthlessness and end-product that outline title contenders is the following step in Spurs’ evolution.
